Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
  • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
  • B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K1/00—Methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion
  • G06K1/12—Methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion otherwise than by punching
  • G06K1/126—Methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion otherwise than by punching by photographic or thermographic registration
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
  • B41M3/00—Printing processes to produce particular kinds of printed work, e.g. patterns
  • B41M3/14—Security printing
  • B41M3/144—Security printing using fluorescent, luminescent or iridescent effects
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
  • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
  • B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
  • B41M5/267—Marking of plastic artifacts, e.g. with laser
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K5/00—Use of organic ingredients
  • C08K5/01—Hydrocarbons
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
  • G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
  • G06K7/12—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
  • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
  • G06K2019/06215—Aspects not covered by other subgroups
  • G06K2019/06225—Aspects not covered by other subgroups using wavelength selection, e.g. colour code

Definitions

• the invention relates to a process for the irreversible applicatior of a marking invisible to the naked eye to a polymer moulding with the aid of laser irradiation.
• the invention also relates to polymer compositions suitable for that purpose and to invisibly markable and marked mouldings made entirely or partly of the polymer composition.
• An invisible marking is useful for, for example, security purposes, for example to prevent unauthorized copying.
• a marking invisible to the eye can be applied to a polypropylene film using a laser so that, by choosing specific laser parameters, in particular the power, a change in the structure of the polymer material is obtained in the outer atom layers resulting in a marking invisible to the naked eye, but which becomes visible on being irradiated with suitably chosen electromagnetic radiation.
• a marking invisible to the naked eye is understood to be a marking of such low contrast with its background, that a normal person will not see it without specific means under conditions of illumination with daylight or a similar light source, that is electromagnetic radiation of wavelengths essentially within the visible range of 400 to 700 nm.
• the aim of the invention is to provide a process that does not possess the aforementioned drawbacks, or possesses them to a lesser extent.
• a moulding being entirely or partly made of a polymer composition containing a polymer and a compound (I), which compound can be irreversibly converted through laser radiation into a compound (II) that yields a visible contrast in the polymer composition only when irradiated with electromagnetic radiation at a wavelength outside the visible range of 400 to 700 nm.
• the process according to the invention enables invisible markings to be applied in a predictable and reproducible manner, irrespective of the type of polymer material chosen.
• Another advantage is that by choosing an appropriate compound (I), whether or not in combination with auxiliary materials, the markings may be applied with the aid of the customary cheaper lasers, for example with the aid of a 1064 or 532 Nd/YAg laser.
• Another advantage is that the polymer itself is not changed, which means that it is easier to make the markings invisible. Further, potential negative effects of local degradation of the polymer, e.g. (microscopic) foaming or changing of chemical resistance, are avoided. An indirect effect of local degradation with the known technique may be that markings become visible during use of the moulding; also this problem is diminished with the process according to the invention. The markings are also more wear-resistant. Another advantage is that, as will be described in more detail below, the process allows a larger number of different embodiments via the choice of compound (I), whether or not in combination with other additives such as colorants.
• WO 9831018 A1 describes a process for the application, with the aid of laser radiation, of a fluorescent marking to a moulding, in particular a reversibly writable optical memory.
• a coating consisting of a markable polymer composition is applied from a solution to a moulding, after which the moulding is marked with the aid of a laser.
• the polymer composition contains a specific polyester in combination with a specific additive on which fluorescent markings can be made with the aid of a laser.
• the markings are reversible, which means that they gradually disappear on exposure to sunlight, and that they can be entirely deleted through heating above the polyesters glass transition temperature.
• US 4871714 A discloses a process for the application of a marking to a moulding which, for security purposes, is irreversible and invisible to the naked eye.
• an invisible UV fluorescent coating is affixed to a moulding as a security marking by means of a thermal transfer technique.
• the principal drawback of the aforementioned known processes is that applying a coating to a preformed moulding is exceptionally laborious and expensive.
• the coating is not wear-resistant, which means that this coating and the marking applied in it will, at least without further measures, easily be damaged during use.
• Another major drawback is that the surface properties and the mechanical properties of the moulding are influenced by the coating.
• the marking can in effect only be easily applied in areas where a coating can also be easily applied, preferably on a flat surface. Because of these drawbacks, these processes are actually used only in data storage devices.
• the known processes are not suitable for complexly shaped utilitarian objects, such as in particular three-dimensionally shaped mouldings of the kind obtained with various moulding techniques such as injection-moulding, compression-moulding, extrusion-moulding, blow-moulding, etc.
• the moulding is at least partly formed from the markable polymer composition, after which the marking can be immediately applied to any location on the moulding with the aid of a laser, without any further pre- or after-treatment.
• the marking is applied in the moulding material and not on top of the surface, which means that it is wear-resistant and the surface properties and mechanical properties of the moulding have not changed.
• compounds I and II are both invisible to the naked eye.
• the advantage of this process is that it can be applied in any polymer, and in particular also in transparent applications such as films, bottles, synthetic glass, etc.
• compound(s) I and/or II are visible to the naked eye, but it is impossible to distinguish between them.
• An example of this is a coloured compound I that is by laser radiation converted into a compound II, which is of the same colour in visible light, or of a hardly contrasting colour; and can hence not be distinguished from compound I, but which when irradiated by non-visible light differs in colour from compound I and thus yields a contrast, for example as a result of metamerism or luminescence.
• compounds I and II are distinguishable to the naked eye per se, but they are not distinguishable to the naked eye in the polymer composition.
• the polymer composition contains a pigment or colorant that masks the difference in the polymer composition in visible light.
• the markings invisible to the naked eye may be made visible through irradiation with electromagnetic radiation at a wavelength outside the visible range from 400 to 700 nm, hereinafter also called: detection lighting.
• Compounds I and II preferably show a visible contrast because they differ in their degree of luminescence in UV or IR light.
• compound I luminesces and compound II does not luminesce, or luminesces to a lesser extent.
• the luminescent compound I is destroyed by the laser light, as a result of which it no longer luminesces and detection reveals a dark marking on a light luminescent background.
• detection lighting reveals a luminescent light marking on a dark background. The advantage of this is that the marking has a better contrast.
• Another advantage is that the object does not luminesce completely in the case of random or unintentional detection lighting.
• the invention also relates to a polymer composition that is suitable for use in the aforementioned process, the composition containing a polymer and a compound (I), which compound through laser radiation can be irreversibly converted into a compound (II) that yields a visible contrast in the polymer composition only when irradiated with electromagnetic radiation at a wavelength outside the visible range of 400 to 700 nm.
• Compound (I) in the polymer composition according to the invention preferably has a 1 ,2-substituted alkane bond, which is in a 1,2 elimination reaction with the aid of laser radiation converted into a luminescent alkene compound (II).
• the advantage of this is that the marking will then luminesce only under detection lighting.
• Another major advantage is that such compounds are thermostable and may nevertheless be converted with the aid of laser light, which makes them extremely suitable for polymer compositions that are moulded at high temperatures, for example by means of injection-moulding.
• compound (I) in the polymer composition according to the invention is a polycyclic aromatic compound.
• Such a compound shows luminescence, when radiated with UV light and can be converted into a non-luminescent compound (II) with the aid of laser light.
• Compound I is preferably derived from compounds chosen from the group comprising anthracene, phenanthrene, chrysene, pyrene, fluoroanthene, stilbene, benzanthracene or diphenylpolyene. 'Derived' is understood to mean that these molecules may have been substituted.
• the polymer composition is in particular intended for use as a builder in the production of polymer mouldings.
• the mouldings may be produced in different ways, usually at elevated temperature, for example by means of extrusion, by blow-moulding, compression-moulding, injection-moulding, etc.
• Compound I is therefore preferably thermostable at least up to approximately the processing temperature of the polymer composition.
• the moulding is formed from a melt of the polymer composition, preferably by means of injection- moulding, and the polymer in the polymer composition is a thermoplastic and compound I is thermostable at least up to approximately the melting temperature of the polymer composition. More preferably compound I is thermostable at least up the melt processing temperature of the polymer composition, which generally is some 20-40 degrees centrigrade above the melting temperature of the polymer.
• the invention also relates to the use of the polymer composition according to the invention for the production of injection-mouldings and to a markable moulding entirely or partly made of a polymer composition according to the invention.
• An invisible marking may be applied to the markable mouldings with the aid of a laser.
• the laser settings are geared to the properties of compound I, whether or not in combination with additives that promote the conversion of compound I into compound II, such as leucodyes, (laser) light- absorbing substances and the like.
• the great advantage of the process according to the invention is that commercially available and relatively cheap lasers may be used, such as a 1024 nm Nd YAg laser, more or less irrespective of the type of polymer used in the polymer composition.
• the marked mouldings contain a polymer composition as described above and a marking containing compound II.
• the polymer composition according to the invention is particularly advantageous for use in security applications, for example to prevent unauthorized copying or theft.
• Another useful application is a moulding according to the invention to which has been applied an invisible marking containing product and/or producer information. This information may be used in various ways, for example for quality assurance, for product liability or for recycling.
• a waste stream may for example be purified by identifying marked mouldings according to the invention, based on the code applied to them, and then selectively removing from the waste stream.
• the moulding contains process instructions, for example relating to further installation, assembly and/or distribution.
• process instructions are connection diagrams for electronic components, logistic information, specific customer information and the like.
• the invention also relates to a production process, wherein product requirements are entered in a computer, on the basis of which a laser subsequently writes process instructions on a moulding, after which the moulding is treated further according to these process instructions, for example in a device fitted with equipment for automatically reading and inte ⁇ reting the marking and carrying out the process instructions.
• a laser subsequently writes process instructions on a moulding
• the moulding is treated further according to these process instructions, for example in a device fitted with equipment for automatically reading and inte ⁇ reting the marking and carrying out the process instructions.
• use is preferably made of an invisibly marked moulding according to the invention.
• the production process is no longer controlled centrally, but by the process instructions on one or more parts of the product to be formed in that production process.
• This makes the production process very flexible. In this way, it is easier to allow for individual preferences of customers.
• Customers may thus communicate their individual preferences, for example via the Internet, which preferences are then computer- translated into process instructions and invisibly laser-marked on a polymer
• Example I To PBT (polybutadiene terephthalate) Arnite® T06200 was added the blue pigment Ultramarijnblauw 26 (Reckitt) and transstilbene. This composition was melt-mixed to form a homogeneous polymer composition, which was subsequently compression-moulded to form a test plate. A marking was then applied to the test plate using a 355 nm diode-pumped Nd/YaG laser (power 50 mW, 3 kHz, 100% amperage, in focus, writing speed 182 mm/sec, approx. 300 dpi). No marking was visible on the test plate with the naked eye. In UV light of 366 nm the marking became visible as a non-luminescent shape on a luminescent ground.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Toxicology (AREA)
• Artificial Intelligence (AREA)
• Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
• Thermal Transfer Or Thermal Recording In General (AREA)
• Treatments Of Macromolecular Shaped Articles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (2)

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• 2000
  • 2000-07-12 NL NL1015686A patent/NL1015686C2/nl not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2001
  • 2001-07-09 AU AU2001272848A patent/AU2001272848A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-07-09 CN CN01812642A patent/CN1441728A/zh active Pending
  • 2001-07-09 US US10/332,276 patent/US20040055492A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-07-09 JP JP2002508909A patent/JP2004502576A/ja active Pending
  • 2001-07-09 WO PCT/NL2001/000524 patent/WO2002004223A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2001-07-09 EP EP01952053A patent/EP1299247A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-07-09 KR KR10-2003-7000359A patent/KR20030026316A/ko not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-07-25 TW TW090118229A patent/TW522100B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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